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jennynd · 08-08-2006, 06:06 AM

Ok, it seems silly to post again but I figured I'd start us off.

My mom became Catholic (was Lutheran) when she married my dad. I was baptized & raised Catholic & sent to Catholic schools K-12. When I was a teen I stopped caring very much about my faith (go figure!). I was into pro-life stuff & liked being Catholic but I fell away from some of the teachings. Reconciliation & the Real Presence were the two major things I really struggled with. I stopped going to Rec in high school... we'd have services at school & I figured out my parent's wouldn't know if I didn't go (used to go w/ dad during Lent).

Two things in my life turned me back to my faith. I went to a very liberal college & heard all sorts of lies & misconceptions about Catholicism. I was surprised at how much it angered me & w/ my extensive education I was able to answer & correct a lot of people... even professors! It sort of made me wake up & realize that I needed to get serious & answer my own questions if I was ever going to help anyone else understand it. The other thing was the passion my DH had for learning about Catholicism. He was always interested & when we started dating in high school I was able to help him learn more.

Long story short, when my DH decided to become Catholic (he was Methodist) a year after we married I got really honest w/ myself about how my lack of understanding was really just resistance - denied this for years. I went to Rec for the first time in 8 years the same day my DH went for the first time ever... mine took longer than his!! I think after that I finally understood that not everything about faith can be rationalized like science. That helped me understand Rec, the Eucharist, & even the Holy Spirit more clearly. I am totally committed to my faith now & want to be a religious ed teacher at my former high school so I can help waivering teens like I once was!